Mitsubishi lifts pricing, spec for new Triton

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) says it expects to get a sales boost from its heavily revised Triton pick-up range, despite price rises and market re-positioning for the ute that hits showrooms in early January.

Revealed in Thailand in November, the new Triton benefits from a big uptick in safety gear and standard in-car comfort features, as well as suspension tweaks and a dramatic new exterior styling.

Mitsubishi is also launching the Triton – which turns 40 this year – with a seven-year/150,000km warranty until the end of the financial year.

The price increases range from $200 to $1000 for the three Club Cab variants, while the Dual Cab has increased by $500 for the entry GLX, $1500 for the GLX+, $2000 for the GLS and $3000 for the new GLS Premium that replaces the Exceed.

Mitsubishi has held the pricing for the Single Cab variants. The starting price for the base 4x2 GLX cab chassis manual – the sole offering with the 2.4-litre petrol engine – remains at $22,490 before on-road costs.

On some GLX variants, the Japanese company has also added a new ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) grade to that includes a forward collision mitigation system with pedestrian detection, a lane departure warning, auto-dimming mirror, front foglights, dusk-sensing headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

It adds $800 to the price of the GLX and is mandatory on 4x2 Dual Cab auto, 4x4 Club Cab auto and 4x4 Dual Cab cab-chassis auto, but is optional on the 4x4 Dual Cab manual and auto.

Speaking at a media event this week, MMAL chief operating officer Tony Principe said he did not expect the price increase on some variants to impact sales of the Triton that is currently the third best seller in the pick-up segment behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

“If you look at the market, we pretty much dominate the $35,000 to $40,000 zone,” he said. “We are probably getting 50 per cent market share in (that) zone.

“We haven’t really had much product in the $40,000-plus zone and really what we are doing here is strengthening our position in that higher price end.”

MMAL deputy director of marketing and operations Derek McIlroy said the response to the new Triton since its reveal last month had been overwhelmingly positive.

“We had our dealer conference last month,” he said. “The reaction from the dealer body was probably the best I have ever seen. They are very, very excited about the car.

“Dealer confidence was very high. I wouldn’t be surprised if the smarter ones were talking to their owner base to look to advance orders.”

As reported, the Triton now carries Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield front-end styling. The height of the bonnet has increased by 40mm, giving it a more aggressive, modern look.

All automatic variants swap out the old five-speed unit for the new six-speed transmission, while the five-speed manual carries over.

Mitsubishi said it opted not to use the eight-speed auto from the mechanically related Pajero Sport to restrict weight gains.

The 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine carries over, putting out 133kW at 3500rpm and 430Nm at 2500rpm. However, due to the increase in weight, as well as revised gearing and redirected aerodynamics, fuel use has increased.

For dual-cab variants, the manual fuel consumption has increased from 7.2 litres per 100km to 7.9L, while the auto is up from 7.6L to 8.6L/100km. For the Club Cab, it has increased from 7.2 to 7.8L for the manual and 7.6 to 8.3L for the auto.

The 94kW/194Nm 2.4-litre petrol unit in the base single-cab variant carries over unchanged, but fuel use is up from 10.9L to 11.4L/100km

In safety, the new Triton gains the ADAS option on some variants and a miss-acceleration mitigation system that stops the car if it detects that the driver has mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

It also features blind spot warning and a rear cross-traffic alert, which Mitsubishi says are segment firsts.

It also has a rearview camera, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist, a speed limiter and seven airbags.

Standard gear from the base GLX includes keyless entry, multifunction steering wheel, reach and eight adjustable steering column, display audio touchscreen, Bluetooth, two 12V sockets, a dust and pollen filter, fabric seat trim, second-row centre armrest with cupholders and vinyl floor coverings.

The GLX+ adds a smartphone link through the display audio touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB digital radio, side steps, rear step bumper, a four-spoke steering wheel, high-contrast meters with colour display and the aforementioned features in the ADAS pack.

The GLS then adds automatic high beam, hill-descent control, front parking sensors, a roof-mounted air circulator instead of lower rear air vents, privacy glass, LED headlights and daytime running lights, automatic headlight levelling, a sports bar, leather steering wheel, park brake and gearshifter, carpet and a premium seat fabric.

Finally, the GLS Premium gets leather seat facings, heated front seats, a tub liner, nudge bar, smart key, push-button start and a surround-view monitor.

As reported, MMAL was involved in the engineering development of the new Triton, and the suspension setup has been tweaked to suit Australian conditions.

The Triton will be offered with a number of genuine accessories, including a bullbar that was developed to incorporate the various sensors from some of the safety systems.

Mitsubishi is offering the Triton with three years capped-price servicing which is $299 a year for the diesel variants and $199 a year for the petrol.

2019 Mitsubishi Triton pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs